Pusher loading means for conveyors

ABSTRACT

A system for loading articles on a conveyor which includes a plurality of article carrying areas and having a loading platform positioned alongside the path of conveyor movement. The system includes pusher means which are mounted on a separate conveyor and which engage articles positioned on the platform. The pusher means are guided by track means so that the articles move longitudinally in the direction of conveyor movement and transversely toward the conveyor so that the articles can be deposited on the conveyor in an extremely smooth but rapid fashion. The pusher means include automatically operated and pivotally mounted end paddles which corner articles engaged by the pusher means to insure transfer movement over the platform and toward the conveyor.

United States Patent Harrison [54] PUSHER LOADING MEANS FOR 1 51 Sept.26, 1972 CONVEYORS Primary Examiner-Edward A. Sroka [72] lnventor: JohnHarrison, Lincolnwood, Ill. ""yM Dougall, Hersh & Scott [73] Assignee:'llihe Spra-Con Company, Chicago, [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Sept 30 Asystem for loading articles on a conveyor which includes a plurality ofarticle carrying areas and having a PP 135,311 loading platformpositioned alongside the path of conveyor movement. The system includespusher means 52 us. (:1 .493/23, 198/174 which are mounted on a separateconveyor and which 51 1m. (:1. ..B65g 19/10, 865g 47/04 engage articlespositioned on the Platform The pusher [58] Field of Search ..l98/20, 23,38. 174, 102; mean are guide by rack means so that the articles 214/ llR; 53/48 move longitudinally in the direction of conveyor movement andtransversely toward the conveyor so [56] References Cited that thearticles can be deposited on the conveyor in an extremely smooth butrapid fashion. The pusher UNITED STATES PATENTS means includeautomatically operated and pivotally 2,937,739 5/ I960 Levy ..198/38mounted end paddles which corner articles engaged 1 1/1965 Rutkus ..l98/102 by the pusher means to insure transfer movement over 3,333,6778/1967 Harrison ..l98/129 the platform and toward the conveyor.3,339,699 9/1967 Harrison ..l98/23 3,361,247 1/1968 Lauzon ..l98/38 l0Chums. 11 Drawing Figures 3,542,215 11/1970 Fromme ..2l4l1l .se i 2.Gq/ez 1 1 fl A88 1 1 1, Q 1 1 1,160 -42 42 1 P L T;.' .1 "-r 4 '::1 -.TJ:3131 r 1 A H 130 &'1\;. 1L){ C 1 i" 1 "1 i 1:; lli 71 1 T1;{ I,:L.;.-,- fi- 1' s s 1. 14.1 11CG1; 1i171; 1ufi 1 -iiihi 1 .11. 4 .711 i.I

1 Mu 4. 4. 4- M w t u.. IIH Ii A SHEET 1 BF 3 lllllllfl L 1 .1 1%

8 A mm a 7 y 31 a 7 l NY N UN N 3 PATENTED SEP 2 6 m2 SHEU 2 BF 3accordingly, automatic systems which permit high speed operation must bedeleloped; (ineofithebasic problems involved in such 3 developments is:the handling of the articles in a fashion'suohthat the articles will notbe damaged. Thus, articles GSIIIIORUQ moved:

onto a conveyor in a manner such that tliere will-be anysevere impact ortumbling of the articles.'l'hisis particularly true where fragilearticles are beingeontinuously handled or in applications such as postoffice operations where fragile articles are included inat least asignificant part of the packages handled.

Attempts have been made to provide for manual loading of articles onconveyors; however, this technique is unsatisfactory since it severelylimitsthe speed of conveyor movement. The limitations of manual loadingare even more pronounced where automatic discharge of the articles isrequired; In such systems, endless conveyors move adjacent a pluralityof discharge stations located along the conveyor path. Articles areplaced on the conveyor at one of these stations, and coding means areactuated at the sametime. The articles will then be automaticallydischarged at a particular discharge location. It is naturally veryvdifficult for even a relatively skilled persona to apply a code and loadan article on a particular conveyor area when the conveyor is moving atvery high speed.

Some mechanical systems have been proposed for loading articles ontomoving conveyors such as described, for example, in Harrison et al. US.Pat. Nos. 3,333,677 and 3,339,649. These systems pnovide a table locatedabove the path of movement with pusher means being provided for sweepingarticles off the table and onto moving conveyors. Another arrangement isdescribed in Harrison application Ser. No. 45,174, filed on June 9",i970 and entitled Conveyor Loading System".

The Harrison application also describes a loading arrangement whichprovides for the introduction of articles in a very efficient fashionfrom the standpoint of achieving a high speed operation. Specifically,pusher means for the articles are located at relatively widely spacedintervals so that articles can be introduced between the pusher meanswith relative ease even when the pusher means are moving very rapidly.By using separate sets of pusher means operating in timed sequence withconveyor carrying areas, all of the carrying areas on a conveyor can beefficiently loaded even though high speed induction means are not used.

It is a general object of this invention to provide an improved articleloading system for high speed conveyors, particularly for conveyorarrangements of the type described in the aforementioned Harrisonapplication.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a loadingsystem for conveyor constructions which permits high speed operation ofa conveyor while at the same time avoiding any impact, tumbling, orother abuse to articles being loaded.

Theseandotherobjects of this invention will appear hereinafter and forpurposes of illustration, but not of limitation, specific embodiments ofthe invention are shown inxthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation of a conveyor loading-systemcharacterized by the features of this invention; I

FIG. Iisa plan view of the loading system shown in FIG. 1*;

FIG. l is IAPIQI'I'VICW of an alternative loading system alsocharacterized'by the features of this invention;

FIG. 3a is'a schematic illustration of a toggle switch means employedfor controlling the positions of the successive pusher means in theconstruction;

FIG, his across-sectional view illustrating the pusher means utilizedforloading articles onto a moving conveyor and also illustrating thesupporting and separate conveyor means for the pusher means;

FlG. Sis a top plan view of the construction shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal, fragmentary sectional view taken about the lineb-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal fragmentary sectional view taken about the line7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken about the line. 8-8of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken about the line9-9of FIG. 4; and,

FIG. 10 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view talten aboutthe line10- l0-of FIG. 8.

This invention generally relates to a loading system for use inconjunction with a conveyor. The system is employed with conveyorshaving a plurality of article carrying areas with a loading platformbeing positioned alongside the path of conveyor movement. The inventionprovides for the movement of the articles over the surface of theloading platform and then onto an article carrying area.

The movement of the articles is accomplished by means of pusher meanswhich are supported on a separate conveyor. The pusher means sweep overthe platform surface and tracks guide the pusher means angularly towardthe conveyor after the pusher means have engaged an article. The pushermeans include an end paddle which closes after engagement of an articleso that the article is cornered by the pusher means to maintain thearticle in engagement with the pusher means until the article has beendeposited on a conveyor. The speeds of the pusher means and conveyor aresynchronized so that the entire loading operation is carried out in avery gentle fashion with no abuse being applied to any articles eventhough the conveyor may be operating at very high speed.

The construction illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 includes a plurality oftrays 10 which are associated with a conveyor. These trays are eachadaptedto receive an article and to move the articles past dischargelocations along the path of conveyor movement. The loading system ofthis invention are particularly useful in connection with conveyoroperations as described in the aforementioned Harrison application, andin connection with other conveyor operations, for example as describedin Speaker US. Pat. No. 3,034,665; Harrison US. Pat. No. 3,589.50] andGary US. Pat. No. 3,563,395. Reference is made to these disclosures forpurposes of providing a suitable background for the followingdescription.

The conveyor trays follow a path of movement which moves them alongsideloading platforms. In FIG. 2, a loading platform 12 is positioned on oneside of the conveyor trays. In FIG. 3, platforms l4 and 16 are locatedon opposite sides of the conveyor trays 10. It will be appreciated whenconsidering the following description that the loading means can beemployed in conjunction with a variety of such arrangements.

A plurality of induction belts 18-28 and 30-40 are, respectively,positioned alongside the conveyors in FIGS. 2 and 3. As described in theaforementioned Harrison application, the conveyor trays are numberedconsecutively in groups of six, and the induction belts are eachdesignated for trays of a particular number. Thus, all articlesdelivered to the platforms from induction belts 4 will eventually bedeposited on trays 4.

The movement of the articles is accomplished by means of pushers 42which are mounted for movement in the direction of the conveyormovement. The pushers 42 are supported on a separate conveyor which isdriven along with the tray conveyors whereby a given pusher will alwaysmaintain the same relationship with respect to the trays. As shown inFIG. 2, each pusher is located so that it is directly in line with thetrailing edge of a tray.

In accordance with the teachings in the aforementioned Harrisonapplication, the pushers, when opposite the induction means, are spacedat intervals equal to the spacing between the trailing edges of everyother tray. This provides a relatively large space between pushers whichsimplifies movement of articles from the induction means onto theadjacent platforms. The induction means preferably comprise driven beltswhich are automatically actuated in the manner described in theaforementioned application so that the articles can be transferred ontothe platforms without any abuse to the articles. It will be appreciated,however, that manual introduction of the articles onto the platforms ispossible because of the gap which is maintained between the pushermeans.

The pushers 42 are engaged by tracks in the course of their movementalong the lower flight of their supporting conveyor 44. In theembodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, two track sectionsare employed with each track carrying pushers to be utilized inconjunction with one set of induction belts. Specifically, the tracksillustrated in FIG. 2 include one track having a first portion 46 whichextends over the platform 12 opposite the induction belts I8, and 22.Accordingly, the pushers running on this track portion will engagearticles introduced to the platform from these induction belts. A secondportion 48 of this track extends angularly inwardly whereby the pusherscarried by the track are directed toward the conveyor trays. A thirdportion 50 of this track communicates with the second portion 48 wherebythe pushers will assume a path of movement over the conveyor trays.

The second track shown in FIG. 2 includes a first portion 52 whichextends over the platform 12 opposite the induction belts 24, 26 and 28.A second portion 54 of the track directs the pushers on the track to aposition over the conveyor trays, and a third portion 56 of the trackcarries the pushers for a short distance in a position directly over theconveyor trays. The track portion 57 is maintained apart from theportion 46 of the first track to avoid interference of the pushers onthe second track with the loading operation from induction belts 18, 20and 22.

The separate tracks shown in FIG. 3 include first portions 58 and 60which extend, respectively, over the platforms I4 and 16, secondportions 62 and 64 for directing the pushers toward the conveyor andthird portions 66 for carrying the pushers over the conveyor.

The pushers are carried over the conveyor 44 by means of chains 68 whichextend over sprockets 70. The pushers are mounted on transverse rodassemblies 72 in the conveyor shown in FIGS. I and 2 while rodassemblies 74 are utilized for the conveyor shown in FIG. 3.

FIGS. 4 through 10 illustrate the details of the rod supportingstructures and pushers. The figures relate to a structure of the typeshown in FIG. 3 although the same principles will apply to the structureof FIGS. 1 and 2 as well as other variations.

The rod assembly 74 comprises a first rod 76 which is attached by meansof swivel connections to linking bars 78 of the conveyor chains 68. Astabilizing bracket 8 is positioned at each end of each rod 76, and thisbracket includes oppositely extending arm portions 82 and 84 with eacharm portion carrying a guide roller 86. The chain drive 68 includesrollers 88 at each linking position. These rollers ride on tracks 90with the tracks 90 extending between the sprockets 70. The stabilizingrollers 86 ride on a bar track structure 92 which extends along thelower flight of the conveyor.

The anns 84 of the stabilizing brackets define openings for receivingstabilizing rods 94. These rods are positioned in parallel relationshipwith respect to the pusher supporting rods 76, and a roller 96associated with each pusher is adapted to ride on the stabilizing rod94. Each roller 96 is carried on an arm 98 which forms a part of thepusher supporting bracket 100. This bracket carries eight additionalbearing rollers 102 which engage the pusher supporting rod 76. With thisarrangement, the bracket is slideably mounted on the rod 76 for movementtransversely between the ends of the rod. The stabilizing rod 94 servesto maintain the pusher in the upright position illustrated. Because ofthe swivel connection between the ends of the rods '16 and conveyorchain, the rods will hang downwardly throughout their movement along theconveyor.

The pushers 42 each comprise an elongated transversely extending portionformed by means of upper and lower frame members I10 and I12, andvertically extending end frame members 114. A cross bar 116 extendsbetween the end frame member 114 and an inner frame member 118. A facingin the form of a sheet of plexiglass or other solids member preferablycovers the frame so that irregularly shaped packages, packages withstrings, and other objects can be effectively engaged.

A pair of vertically extending tubular members 120 are connected betweenthe horizontal frame member and the pusher supporting bracket 100. Thetubular members are attached together by means of a transverse tubularmember I22 which is welded to a plate I24. The assembly of the tubularmembers and plates are secured to the bracket 100 by means of bolts 126.Additional braces 128 may be attached between the plate and the framemember 110.

Each of the pushers carries a guide roller 130 which is engaged by thetrack portions previously described. As shown in FIG. 4, these trackportions comprise inverted U-shaped sections 132 which confine the guiderollers 130. As the conveyor moves the guide rollers relative to thetrack sections, the brackets 100 supporting the pushers will slide backand forth over the rod assemblies, depending upon the direction of thetracks.

As shown in FIGS. l-3, the pushers are all confined by the same trackbeyond the tray loading locations, while the pushers must be splitbefore returning for the next loading operation. The splitting may beaccomplished by means of a conventional toggle switching arrangement asshown in H0. 30. The toggle member 133 may have an overcenter springwhereby the member will alternate between the position shown to guide aroller 130 into track portion 135, and the opposite position to guidethe succeeding roller into track portion 137. The toggle may be locatedon either the lower or upper level with the latter being preferred tominimize the space requirements.

Each of the pushers includes an end paddle 134 which is tied to avertically extending rod 136. This rod is received by a horizontal plate138 which is attached to the pusher frame. As best shown in FIG. 10, therod 136 extends into a housing 140 mounted on top of the plate 138. Agear 142 is tied to the rod 136, and the teeth of this gear engagehorizontally extending worm gear 144. The shaft 146 to which the wormgear is secured extends outwardly of the housing 140. A clutch drivemechanism comprising a first sleeve 148 and a driving sleeve 150 islocated on this shaft extension. The sleeve 148 is tied to the shaftextension by means of set screw 152. Friction discs 154 are interposedbetween the sleeves 148 and 150, and a spring 156 presses the sleeve 150against the friction discs.

When the sleeve 150 is engaged by a drive means, the worm gear willrotate the gear 142. in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, thedrive means for the sleeve 150 comprises a track member 160 having anylon face 162 (FIG. 4). The bearing engagement of the sleeve 150against the track serves to drive the gear 142 through 270 therebyswinging the associated end paddle 134 from a position flush with themain portion of the pusher 42 to a position perpendicular to the mainportion. As illustrated schematically in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tracks 160are positioned immediately beyond each group of delivery belts wherebythe end paddles will close before the pushers begin angular movementover the platforms. In this closed position, the pushers will retain thearticles until they are deposited on the desired conveyor tray.

A stop 163 is positioned on frame members 118 to limit movement of theend paddles to the closed positions shown. Because of the mechanicalnature of the worm gear and gear 142, the end paddles are selflocked inposition. Accordingly, separate drive means are required for returningthe end paddles to the flush position after they have performed thefunction of moving articles onto conveyor trays. This can beaccomplished by providing a corresponding drive track for engagement ofthe sleeve 150 as the paddles move along the upper flight of thecarousel conveyor. The worm gear will, of course, have to be rotated inthe opposite direction in order to achieve this movement, and this canbe accomplished by simply placing the drive track on the opposite sideof the sleeve.

in many cases, particularly in post office operations, packages or otherarticles of varying sizes and having different characteristics must behandled. To insure that all types of articles can be handled, the pusherstructures illustrated are preferably provided with brushes extendingalong the underside of the frame member 112, and brushes 172 extendingalong the underside of the end paddles 134. These brushes areparticularly effective for purposes of engaging strings, then packageportions or other unusual shapes which might otherwise complicate thedelivery of articles to the conveyor trays. Strings, for example, cancatch in various moving parts of the apparatus and create a significantproblem.

The apparatus described provides for the highly efficient movement ofarticles onto a moving conveyor. The articles are positively engaged bythe pushers, and there is an absolute minimum of motion of an articlerelative to its pusher and relative to the tray or other conveyor areaupon which it is deposited. There is no tumbling or impact of an articlewhich could lead to damage of the article or, in the case of a package,to contents. The system is also totally adaptable to automatic operationas described in the aforementioned Harrison application. The structuresdescribed are of a relatively basic mechanical nature, and a highlycompact and efficient arrangement can be constructed. Since the pusherconveyor is intended for movement at the same speed as the articleconveyor, the drive mechanism for the separate conveyors can be tiedtogether thereby eliminating the need for any complex synchronizingcontrols. The system does not require any complicated induction beltsinsofar as the transfer onto the conveyor is concerned since onlystationary platforms positioned alongside the conveyor are provided. Theprovision of the movable end paddles on the pushers which provides thebasic advantages of the invention has been accomplished with relativelysimply mechanical arrangements, particularly since the drive means forthe worm gears may comprise simply short stationary tracks which willachieve automatic opening and closing of the end paddles.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be madein the above described eonstructions which provide the characteristicsof this invention without departing from the spirit thereof particularlyas defined in the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. In a system for loading articles on a conveyor wherein the conveyordefines a plurality of article carrying areas, a loading platformpositioned alongside the path of conveyor movement, means for loadingarticles on said platform, pusher means mounted on a separate carrierfor movement with said conveyor and adapted to engage articlespositioned on the platform, and drive means for the pusher means, theimprovement comprising means for controlling the pusher means wherebythe pusher means operate to deposit articles on the conveyor, said meansfor controlling the pusher means comprising guide means engaging thepusher means and thereby determining the position of the pusher means,said guide means operating to direct said pusher means in the directionof conveyor movement whereby articles engaged by the pusher means aremoved by the pusher means longitudinally over said platform, and saidguide means operating to simultaneously direct each pusher meansangularly in a direction toward said conveyor when an article carryingarea is in position for receiving an article whereby each pusher meanswill move articles transversely over the platform and onto articlecarrying areas of said conveyor, and wherein each of said pusher meanscomprises a transversely extending portion defining an article engagingface, a paddle attached to said transversely extending portion at theend of the pusher means remote from said conveyor, and means for movingsaid paddles for locating the paddles in an open position during loadingof articles on said platform, and for thereafter moving said paddles toturn the paddles to a closed position whereby the paddles form a cornerconfiguration with said transversely extending portions to therebymaintain the articles in engagement with the pusher means duringmovement of the pusher means toward the article conveyor.

2. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said guide meanscomprise track means, first portions of said track means extending oversaid platform and alongside said conveyor for guiding the pusher meansover the platform, second portions of the track means extendingangularly inwardly to a position over said conveyor for guiding saidpusher means away from the platform and to the conveyor, and thirdportions of said track means extending over said conveyor for guidingsaid pusher means along the conveyor.

3. A construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein the meanssupporting the pusher means on said separate carrier comprisetransversely extending rods, means slideably supporting said pushermeans on said rods, said track means operating to drive said pushermeans back and forth along the length of the rods for movement of thepusher means between positions over said platform and over said articleconveyor.

4. A construction in accordance with claim 1 including brushes extendingalong the bottom edge of said pusher means, said brushes sweeping saidplatform during movement of the pusher means.

5. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said paddles arepivotally attached to said pusher means, paddle drive means carried bythe pusher means, said means for moving the paddles operating saidpaddle drive means, and wherein said guide means comprise track means,first portions of said track means extending over said platform andalongside said conveyor for guiding the pusher means over the platform,second portions of the track means extending angularly inwardly to aposition over said conveyor for guiding said pusher means away from theplatform and to the conveyor, and third portions of said track meansextending over said conveyor for guiding said pusher means along theconveyor, said first portion of said track means being located oppositesaid induction stations.

6. A construction in accordance with claim 5 wherein said inductionstations are located at spaced a art intervals alon said I rm said in evals be'n egual to at least twie the of' said article carrying areas,and said pusher means being spaced apart by corresponding intervals.

7. A construction in accordance with claim 6 wherein the articlecarrying areas on said article con veyor are divided into sets ofalternating areas, and including first and second groups of inductionmeans, one of said groups operating to deliver articles for engagementby pusher means delivering articles to one set of article carryingareas, and the other of said groups operating to deliver articles forengagement by pusher means delivering articles to the other set ofarticle carrying areas.

8. A construction in accordance with claim 7 wherein said separatecarrier operates in synchronism with said article conveyor, each of thepusher means on said separate carrier thereby moving in timedrelationship with specific article carrying areas, said pusher meansbeing located on said separate carrier whereby the pusher means moveadjacent the trailing edge of each article carrying area.

9. A construction in accordance with claim 8 including separate trackmeans for guiding alternating pusher means, one track means guiding thepusher means delivering articles to one set of article carrying areas,and the other track means guiding pusher means delivering articles tothe other set of article carrying areas.

10. A construction in accordance with claim 5 wherein said paddle drivemeans comprise a rotating shaft connected to said paddles, said paddledrive means comprising means positioned alongside the platform forengaging the rotating shafts of each paddle as the associated pushermeans move over the platform.

1. In a system for loading articles on a conveyor wherein the conveyordefines a plurality of article carrying areas, a loading platformpositioned alongside the path of conveyor movement, means for loadingarticles on said platform, pusher means mounted on a separate carrierfor movement with said conveyor and adapted to engage articlespositioned on the platform, and drive means for the pusher means, theimprovement comprising means for controlling the pusher means wherebythe pusher means operate to deposit articles on the conveyor, said meansfor controlling the pusher means comprising guide means engaging thepusher means and thereby determining the position of the pusher means,said guide means operating to direct said pusher means in the directionof conveyor movement whereby articles engaged by the pusher means aremoved by the pusher means longitudinally over said platform, and saidguide means operating to simultaneously direct each pusher meansangularly in a direction toward said conveyor when an article carryingarea is in position for receiving an article whereby each pusher meanswill move articles transversely over the platform and onto articlecarrying areas of said conveyor, and wherein each of said pusher meanscomprises a transversely extending portion defining an article engagingface, a paddle attached to said transversely extending portion at theend of the pusher means remote from said conveyor, and means for movingsaid paddles for locating the paddles in an open position during loadingof articles on said platform, and for thereafter moving said paddles toturn the paddles to a closed position whereby the paddles form a cornerconfiguration with said transversely extending portions to therebymaintain the articles in engagement with the pusher means duringmovement of the pusher means toward the article conveyor.
 2. Aconstruction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said guide meanscomprise track means, first portions of said track means extending oversaid platform and alongside said conveyor for guiding the pusher meansover the platform, second portions of the track means extendingangularly inwardly to a position over said conveyor for guiding saidpusher means away from the platform and to the conveyor, and thirdportions of said track means extending over said conveyor for guidingsaid pusher means along the conveyor.
 3. A construction in accordancewith claim 2 wherein the means supporting the pusher means on saidseparate carrier comprise transversely extending rods, means slideablysupporting said pusher means on said rods, said track means operating todrive said pusher means back and forth along the length of the rods formovement of the pusher means between positions over said platform andover said article conveyor.
 4. A construction in accordance with claim 1including brushes extending along the bottom edge of said pusher means,said brushes sweeping said platform during movement of the pusher means.5. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said paddles arepivotally attached to said pusher means, paddle drive means carried bythe pusher means, said means for moving the paddLes operating saidpaddle drive means, and wherein said guide means comprise track means,first portions of said track means extending over said platform andalongside said conveyor for guiding the pusher means over the platform,second portions of the track means extending angularly inwardly to aposition over said conveyor for guiding said pusher means away from theplatform and to the conveyor, and third portions of said track meansextending over said conveyor for guiding said pusher means along theconveyor, said first portion of said track means being located oppositesaid induction stations.
 6. A construction in accordance with claim 5wherein said induction stations are located at spaced apart intervalsalong said platform, said intervals being equal to at least twice thewidth of said article carrying areas, and said pusher means being spacedapart by corresponding intervals.
 7. A construction in accordance withclaim 6 wherein the article carrying areas on said article conveyor aredivided into sets of alternating areas, and including first and secondgroups of induction means, one of said groups operating to deliverarticles for engagement by pusher means delivering articles to one setof article carrying areas, and the other of said groups operating todeliver articles for engagement by pusher means delivering articles tothe other set of article carrying areas.
 8. A construction in accordancewith claim 7 wherein said separate carrier operates in synchronism withsaid article conveyor, each of the pusher means on said separate carrierthereby moving in timed relationship with specific article carryingareas, said pusher means being located on said separate carrier wherebythe pusher means move adjacent the trailing edge of each articlecarrying area.
 9. A construction in accordance with claim 8 includingseparate track means for guiding alternating pusher means, one trackmeans guiding the pusher means delivering articles to one set of articlecarrying areas, and the other track means guiding pusher meansdelivering articles to the other set of article carrying areas.
 10. Aconstruction in accordance with claim 5 wherein said paddle drive meanscomprise a rotating shaft connected to said paddles, said paddle drivemeans comprising means positioned alongside the platform for engagingthe rotating shafts of each paddle as the associated pusher means moveover the platform.